MICROFINANCE EVENT: USAID’s Microfinance News-Source, microLINKS, will Host Online Discussion on Value Chains for Vulnerable Populations

Speaker’s Corner 32: Value Chains for Vulnerable Populations

April 28 – 30, 2009, participate online: http://www.microlinks.org/ev.php?ID=37239_201&ID2=DO_COMMUNITY

The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) microfinance and microenterprise development news-source, microLINKS, will host its thirty-second Speaker’s Corner on the topic of value chain development for vulnerable populations. Microfinance plays an important component of value chain finance, defined as “financial products and services that flow to or through any point in a value chain in order to increase returns on investment and growth and competitiveness of that value chain.” Practitioners are invited to share and learn from each other’s experiences by posting messages about their own experiences, questions and comments on this webpage. Each of the three days of the Speaker’s Corner will have a different topic and a different facilitator:

– Day One (April 28): Involving vulnerable populations

Ben Fowler, Senior Consultant and Project Manager for Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA), will facilitate the first discussion on what barriers prevent participation of vulnerable populations in value chain development programming, and what strategies are required to ensure their involvement.

– Day Two (April 29): The politics of crisis

Luis Osorio, the International Coordinator for the Markets Livelihoods programme of non-governmental organization Practical Action, will facilitate the second discussion on how the use or abuse of power in a crisis affects the impacts of value chain programs for vulnerable populations.

– Day Three (April 30): Adjusting practice to context

Christian Pennotti, a Program and Learning Coordinator at global non-profit Academy for Educational Development (AED), will facilitate the third discussion focusing on how programs can adjust their approach to fit the context of vulnerable populations, such as populations in conflict and post disaster settings, and those characterized by high rates of HIV/AIDS.

Registration for the online discussion is free, and can be done by filling out the form at this link. Any technical or conceptual questions regarding microenterprises can be emailed to hotline@microlinks.org. For any general questions or comments, please email microlinks@microlinks.org.

MicroCapital’s recently released a Paper Wrap-Up on USAID’s March edition of microLINKS Connections, which summarized three USAID microREPORTS that provide more information on value chain finance:

“Striving toward a Competitive Industry: The Importance of Dynamic Value Chain Facilitation,” by David Knopp, Emerging Market Groups: September 2008

“Facilitating Behavior Change and Transforming Relationships: Field Application of Key Value Chain Principles,” by Marian Boquiren and Ivan Idrovo, Strategic Development Corporation Asia: October 2008

“Butterflies, Elephants and Icebergs: Using Language and Data to Mobilize Value Chains,” by Rob Henning, Neal Donahue and Eric Kacou, OTF Group: October 2008

For a list of upcoming topics in USAID’s monthly Speaker’s Corner series, see the main Speaker’s Corner page. For more information on April’s Speaker’s Corner on value chains for vulnerable populations, please refer to this link.

By Ryan Hogarth, Research Assistant

Additional Resources:

Academy for Educational Development (AED): Home

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA): Home

MicroCapital article, March 11, 2009: PAPER WRAP-UP: “microLINKS Connections, March 2009,” by USAID

microLINKS: Home

microLINKS: Information about the discussion host and forum facilitators

microLINKS: Main Speaker’s Corner Page

microLINKS: Speaker’s Corner Registration April 2009

microLINKS: Speaker’s Corner 32: Value Chains for Vulnerable Populations

Practical Action: Home

USAID: Home